Cure

Cocktails, finely made and wildly creative, built the reputation of this sleek Freret Street destination inside a converted firehouse. But the small gestures -- the glass of water that lands immediately after you sit, the bartenders that even on the busiest night stay composed -- are signs that
Cure
is a bar that delivers both drinks and hospitality with the dexterity to put it among the best in the nation.

Cure changed the New Orleans cocktail scene. When it opened in 2009, on a corner that at the time few frequented, you could get a well-made drink in New Orleans, but that required knowing who made them (say Chris Hannah or Chris McMillian) and when they were working. Cure was the first place where everyone behind the bar took your drink order seriously.

Today, Cure hardly stands alone as the city's only serious cocktail bar. But as the years pass, Cure has not become complacent. Rather, it has gained a mature confidence and, for that reason, a loyal following.

Tip:
Avoid Fridays and Saturdays if you're more interested in drinks than the scene.

Location:
4905 Freret St., New Orleans, 504.302.2357

Open:
Daily (opens at 3 p.m. F-Su).
Parking:
Street.

Prices:
Beer, $3.95-$6.95; wine, $8-$11; cocktails, $9-$13.

Crowd:
A well-dressed mixed-age crowd during the week and a younger party scene on the weekends.